Running Head: WILL THE LIGHTS STAY ON?

Will the Lights Stay On?

Amanda K. Yarbrough
Liberty University Online EDUC 630

Is There Really A Man in the Moon?

Will the Lights Stay On?

Topic: Series & Parallel Circuits
Grade Level: 8th Grade Science
Missouri Grade Level Expectations:.
Strand 1.2.A.i - Diagram and identify a complete electric circuit by using a source (battery),
means of transfer (wires), and receiver (resistance bulbs, motors, fans)
Strand 1.2.A.j - Observe and describe the evidence of energy transfer in a closed series circuit
Strand 1.2.A.m - Diagram and distinguish between complete series and parallel circuits
Strand 1.2.A.n. - Identify advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel circuits
Objectives:
1. The student will be able to identify the parts and functions of each part of a complete
electric circuit (source, means of transfer and receiver).
2. The student will be able to compare and diagram a series circuit and a parallel circuit by
observing and describing the evidence of evidence of energy transfer in a closed series
circuit.
3. The student will be able to identify advantages and disadvantages of series and parallel
circuits.
List of Materials:
Circuitry 101 Lab: batteries, wires, light bulbs, light bulb holders, switch
Virtual Lab: Desktop computer, laptop computer or tablet, clickers for Smartboard.
Programs needed: Java.
Diversity: There are three eighth-grade classes comprising of approximately 48 students. Over
90% are on free/reduced lunch and come from homes that are below the federal poverty level.
Class 1: There are 19 students with 8 girls and 11 boys. There is one student who is in
the special education program who has difficulties in reading, comprehension,
mathematics and controlling behavior. There are two other students who do not qualify
for special services; however, they have extreme difficulties in reading, comprehension
and mathematics. The majority of the students are kinesthetic learners, but they also do
well with audio/visual activities. These students consistently perform at a B-C level,
although they have the ability to perform higher.
Class 2: There are 18 students with 8 girls and 10 boys. All students are considered to be
average students and consistently perform at a A-C grade level. The majority of the

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students are kinesthetic learners, but they also do well with audio/visual activities. The
biggest difficulty with this class is keeping them on task and making sure that they follow
directions.
Class 3: There are 17 students with 6 girls and 11 boys. There are five students who are
in the special education program who have difficulties in reading, comprehension,
mathematics and controlling behavior. The majority of this class are kinesthetic learners
but can learn through visual and audio. This class ranges in performance from A to F.
Poor performance is due to inconsistent school attendance and not fulfilling classroom
requirements.
Technology Inclusion: Students will be completing an online lab to build virtual parallel and
series circuits to make observations and inferences about how energy is transferred throughout a
circuit.
Procedures:
Anticipatory set: You are helping your family string lights on the Christmas tree. You
plug in the lights and pop, one of the lights burns out. To your surprise, all the lights
on the tree go dark! Why did one light affect the entire string?
Direct Instruction and Guided Practice:
1. Students will be divided into groups of three to four to read one section of the chapter
(Electric Circuits) together and answer the questions in those sections. After each
section, the teacher will lead discussion about the section and clarify answers to
questions. After discussion, one student from each group will move to a different
group for the next section. By the end, all students will have be in completely new
groups to encourage different discussion and movement around the room. A copy of
the chapter is attached at the end of this lesson.
2. Students will be divided into groups of two and given batteries, light bulbs and wires
to complete the Circuitry 101 lab to begin exploring series and parallel circuits. A
copy of the lab is attached at the end of this lesson.
Independent Practice:
Students will be divided into groups of two people per computer and will do the Circuit
Construction Kit (DC only) lab located at http://phet.colorado.edu/en/simulation/circuitconstruction-kit-dc Students will complete the lab worksheet that goes along with this
virtual construction.
Evaluation/Assessment:

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The summative assessment will be completed in two parts, a copy of which is attached at
the end of the lesson:
1. Students will use clickers that are compatible with the SmartBoard to answer
questions 1-7 of the assessment. Results will be sent immediately to the teacher for
grading.
2. Students will complete questions 8-9 on their blog and submit the link for assessment.
Risk Analysis: When using technology, there is always the risk that computers or tablets will
not work, students may not be able to connect to the wireless network or websites could be
down. All of these have been faced in my classroom with this lesson at times. Alternatives to
using individual technology with this lesson is doing this as an entire classroom activity with the
teacher showing the video and doing the lab on the Smartboard, with students taking turns
coming to the front of the room to do the simulation. A paper copy of the assessment would be
available if students are unable to submit the quiz electronically.

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Is There Really A Man in the Moon?

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Skills Practice

DATASHEET FOR CHAPTER LAB

Circuitry 101
There are two basic types of electric circuits. A series circuit connects all of the parts in a single
loop, and a parallel circuit connects each part on a separate branch. A switch wired in series with
the energy source can control the whole circuit. If you want each part of the circuit to work on its
own, the loads must be wired in parallel.
OBJECTIVES
Build a series circuit and a parallel circuit.
MATERIALS
energy sourcedry cell(s)
light-bulb holders (3)
light bulbs (3)

switch
wire, insulated, 15 cm lengths with both
ends stripped

SAFETY INFORMATION
PROCEDURE
1. Build a series circuit with an energy source, a switch, and three light bulbs. Draw a diagram of
your circuit. Caution: Always leave the switch open when building or changing the circuit.
Close the switch only when you are testing or taking a reading.

2. Test your circuit. Do all three bulbs light up? Are all bulbs the same brightness? What happens
if you carefully unscrew one light bulb? Does it make any difference which bulb you
unscrew? Record your observations.
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Circuitry 101 continued

3. Take apart your series circuit. Reassemble the same items so that the bulbs are wired in
parallel. (Note: The switch must remain in series with the power source to be able to control
the whole circuit.) Draw a diagram of your circuit.

4. Test your circuit, and record your observations, as you did in step 2.
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DRAW CONCLUSIONS
5. Interpreting Information Why did the bulbs differ in brightness?
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6. Making Predictions Based on your results, what do you think might happen if too many
electrical appliances are plugged into the same series circuit? What might happen if too many
electrical appliances are plugged into the same parallel circuit?
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Electricity and Circuits

Open the DC only circuit simulator
Find a way to make a single light bulb light up with as FEW parts hooked up as possible. When
electricity flows through wires and makes something work, like a light bulb, it is called a circuit.

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1. Sketch your circuit below:

2. What seems to be making the light bulb turn on in your circuit? (what do you think
electricity is based on the simulator?)

Make a gap in your circuit.

Go to the grab bag and play with the different objects. Find out which objects allow electricity to
flow and fill in the data table:
Objects that allow electricity to flow
(conductors)

3. What do the conductors have in common?

4. What do the insulators have in common?

Objects that do NOT allow electricity to

flow (insulators)

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For the next few activities, you need to light up more than 1 bulb at the same time, using just one
battery.
First circuit: find a way to hook up your bulbs in a way that if you break the connection at one
bulb, ALL bulbs go out.

5. Sketch your new circuit:

6. Why did the rest of the bulbs go out if you break the connection at one bulb?

7. This circuit is called a series circuit because the bulbs are hooked up in one long series
or line. Name somewhere you have seen a string of lights that are also a series circuit.

Second circuit: find a way to hook up your bulbs in a way that if you break the connection at one
bulb, ONLY that bulb goes out.
8. Sketch this circuit:

9. Why do the rest of the bulbs stay lit if you break the connection at one bulb?

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10. This circuit is called a parallel circuit, which has 2 or more single loops connected to the
same battery. When 1 bulb goes out in these circuits, the rest of the lights stay on! Name
somewhere you have seen many bulbs hooked up to one power source, where one bulb
can go out without affecting the others.

11. You design toys for a toy company. Your boss wants you to hook up the lights in the toy
car you are working on in the cheapest way possible, without consideration of the quality
of the toy. Which circuit should you use if you want to save money by using fewer parts?
Why would this circuit be cheaper?

12. You are an electrician working on a house. What type of circuit should you use for the
house so that the owners dont call to complain about their wiring? Why use this circuit?
Experiment with the simulator, see what you can make it do!!!

13. What did you do to make light bulbs glow brighter?

14. What did you do to make light bulbs glow dimmer?

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15. How can you cause a fire? (In the simulator NOT in the real world!)

http://phet.colorado.edu/en/contributions/view/3187

Section Quiz
Section: Electric Circuits

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Write the letter of the correct answer in the space provided.

_______ 1. Circuits need three basic parts, an energy source, wires, and whatelse?
a. charge
c. load
b. force
d. energy
_______ 2. How many pathways are there for moving charges in a series circuit?
a. one
c. three
b. two
d. four
_______ 3. In a short circuit, as the resistance decreases, what happens to the current?
a. increases
c. does not change
b. decreases
d. drops to 0 A
Match the correct definition with the correct term. Write the letter in the space provided.
_______ 4. a circuit in which loads are connected
side
_______ 5. a complete, closed path through which
charges flow
_______ 6. a device used to open and close a circuit
_______ 7. a circuit in which all parts are connected
single loop

side by

a. switch
b. parallel circuit

electric

c. series circuit
d. electric circuit

in a

INTERPRETING GRAPHICS
8. Look at the circuits below. Identify each circuit as a parallel circuit or a series circuit.

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a._________________________________________________________________
b._________________________________________________________________

CRITICAL THINKING
9. Forming Hypotheses Suppose that you turn on the heater in your room and all of the lights
in your room go out. Propose a reason why the lights went out.
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